Major shift in Türkiye’s aesthetic surgery rules sparks debate
A surgeon is performing aesthetic operation. (Photo via EPRAS)
The Ministry of Health in Türkiye has made a bold move by altering regulations on aesthetic surgery procedures. The new decision allows all licensed doctors with approved certificates to perform aesthetic surgeries, sparking widespread debate amid ongoing concerns about fatalities linked to such operations.
New rules transform the field of aesthetic surgery
Previously, only dermatologists, plastic surgeons, and doctors with medical aesthetic certificates could perform aesthetic procedures, provided they operated in facilities equipped with the necessary physical spaces and minimum medical infrastructure.
However, the Ministry has revised the Regulation on Private Healthcare Institutions Offering Outpatient Diagnosis and Treatment. According to the updated rules, licensed physicians who receive approved training or meet appropriate medical curriculum requirements will now be eligible to conduct aesthetic procedures in certified healthcare facilities that meet specified standards.
Broader scope for practicing doctors
The updated regulation significantly broadens the scope of practitioners authorized to offer aesthetic services.
This move underscores the Ministry’s intent to ensure that only qualified doctors perform such procedures, enhancing accountability and professionalism.
Addressing workforce challenges in public healthcare
By widening the definition of eligible practitioners, the Ministry aims to alleviate workforce shortages in relevant specialties within public healthcare.
This adjustment is expected to ease the recruitment challenges that have hindered the accessibility of aesthetic services across many healthcare facilities.
Increased availability of aesthetic services
With these changes, the number of healthcare facilities capable of offering aesthetic services is set to rise. Previously, limited access to specialized professionals often rendered many institutions unable to meet demand.
The new regulation eliminates this bottleneck, paving the way for increased availability of services nationwide.
